Scramble on for spots in Africa

THE scramble for next season’s

CAF places could become a game of musical chairs if Royal AM win or draw against Orlando Pirates in tomorrow’s Premiership fixture at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban.

A draw for Royal (46 points) in their final league match of the season will see them jump from fifth to third place with 47 points. Currently third are Stellenbosch FC on 47 points, with Kaizer Chiefs also on 47 in fourth. Stellenbosch and Chiefs have completed the season, so their statistics cannot change.

Royal have a better goal difference at 12 to Stellenbosch’s nine. But if Royal lose, they will hang on to fifth place unless Pirates win by more than four goals. In that event, Stellenbosch’s goal difference will be better than Royal’s.

If Pirates (43) win by more than four goals, the Buccaneers will go fifth as both they and Royal will have 46 points but they will be better off on goal difference.

Should Royal win, they will edge out second-placed Cape Town City, who have completed their fixtures. Both teams will have 49 points, but Royal have a better goal difference.

As it stands, City and champions Mamelodi Sundowns are the only teams guaranteed to participate in CAF competition next season. Sundowns will play in the Champions League; City cannot finish lower than third, which means a Confederation Cup berth.

If Pirates win their remaining two matches (they also play SuperSport United away on Monday), they will end on 49 points and that will be enough to secure a CAF berth. Should Pirates pick up four points, there could be as many as five teams finishing on 47 points.

Normally there are four CAF places up for grabs but that could easily become three by the time the final whistle blows in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final at Royal

Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

In the highly unlikely event of Marumo Gallants defeating 12-time Premiership champions Sundowns, they will qualify automatically for the Confederation Cup next season.

In that event, only one other Premiership team (the side finishing third) will qualify for the Confederation Cup.

A betting man will wager on Pirates winning their two remaining games on the strength of their current form.

On Tuesday night Pirates brushed a game Maritzburg United aside with a 4-1 win. It was the first time since the 2020 season that Pirates scored four goals in a match.

Thembinkosi Lorch was very much the livewire for Pirates in that match and at the heart of the four-goal rush with a goal and three assists.

The midfielder produced a Man of the Match performance and if he carries over this form into the next two matches, Pirates will hit the jackpot with nine points from three games, and the green light into Africa.

In the final game of the season, SuperSport host Pirates at Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. At stake for SuperSport is a top eight spot, which will be theirs if they defeat Pirates.

In that event, SuperSport will move from 37 to 40 points and displace Lamontville Golden Arrows, who are also on 40 points but with a negative goal difference.